Tahmoor cold case: NSW man charged over Scott Hammond's death

A man has been charged with murdering Scott Hammond, almost five years after his bashed body was found in his home south of Sydney.

Mr Hammond was unpopular among locals in the small town of Tahmoor and was known for setting his pit bulls on people, and his death sparked a lengthy police inquiry.

He died from blunt force trauma to the head in July 2013.

Kenneth Christopher Washbrook, 47, was arrested in Sydney's west this morning. (9NEWS) (9NEWS)Scott Hammond's body was found in his living room. (9NEWS) (9NEWS)One of his pitbulls, suffering paralysis, was also found at the Tahmoor home. (9NEWS) (9NEWS)

Police at the time said that they had a long list of about 5000 potential suspects in the town, according to ABC News.

Police arrested Kenneth Christopher Washbrook, 47, in Sydney's west this morning, charging him with one count of murder.

Detectives say Washbrook has been a person of interest in the case for some time and, while he had no direct relationship with Mr Hammond, the two men "weren't strangers".

Washbrook appeared at Campbelltown Local Court on Thursday afternoon. He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

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Tragically, Mr Hammond's mother Josie died one month ago after spending five years wondering who had killed her son.

Police say Mr Hammond's penchant for setting his dogs on locals wasn't a factor in his death. (9NEWS) (9NEWS)Locals all have their own theories about who was responsible for the death. (9NEWS) (9NEWS)Mr Washbrook's partner told 9NEWS this morning's arrest was "a bit of a blur". (9NEWS) (9NEWS)

At the time of the alleged murder, police investigated whether Mr Hammond's penchant for setting his dogs on people was a motive. But on Thursday they said that wasn't a factor.

Mr Hammond in 2012 pleaded guilty to using his pit bull terriers to attack people in three separate incidents.

The next year his body was found in his Tahmoor living room and a pit bull, suffering paralysis, was also found at the property.

The crime scene did not reveal evidence of a struggle, police said at the time.

Detective Superintendent Ward Hanson says Mr Hammond's mother, Jodie, had always hoped the killer would be found but died before any arrest was made.

Mr Hammond's mother Josie died one month ago, without ever finding out who killed her son. (9NEWS) (9NEWS)